07
By Kendall Silva
One of the first steps toward monetizing your efforts is getting your message out to your prospects. Use your discussion posts as a form of advertising by letting people know what you can offer them.
When you create a new discussion thread, you have to give it a title. This will usually be the only part of your thread people will see when they are visiting that discussion area. Therefore, it should invite them to click on the title and read more.
The title of your new discussion thread should specifically answer this question:
What kind of value are your prospects looking for?
To answer this question, think like your prospects. What questions are they asking in their minds as they search through discussion topics and how can you address them in your title?
“How do I _______?”
“Where can I find ______?”
“What happens when _____?”
If your title does not answer this question, then you may not notice much activity on your thread.
Have you ever seen a commercial that caught your attention, but your realized you had NO CLUE what company or product it was advertising? Don’t let ‘flare’ get in the way of your valuable message. It’s not about showing off all your fancy tricks.
It’s about letting people know that when they have a question, they can come to you for answers. The discussion post title is the first place to do this since it’s the first part of your thread that people will see.
If you read a lot of fictional books, you may notice that the titles are artistic in nature. The Da Vinci Code, The Secret Garden, A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver… These titles may technically have something to do with the actual storyline, but their purpose is to pull on the emotions of the potential readers. You may be attracted by the title, but you still have to read the teaser on the back to know what the story will be about.
However, this works for fictional books because the value that the readers are looking for is a fictional ‘vacation’ made possible by a good book and their own imagination. Therefore, to insult that imagination with an overly descriptive title like, “The Da Vinci Code: Fictional Story about Secret Societies, the Use of Art that Tells of these Secrets, and the Man Who Will Figure It All Out”, would actually take away from the reader’s experience.
In our community, people are not usually looking for artistic inspiration as they do when shopping for a new book. People want answers because they need help. Therefore, metaphoric, creative, and artistic titles will not always communicate the fact that people will find valuable answers within your thread.
As an example, I will discuss a thread I started on the Coaching Cognition Facebook page. I have learned that because I’m a writer at heart, I have to be VERY careful not to get too abstract or artsy with my thread titles. While there is a time and place for this, even on the Coaching Cognition fanpage, I at least need to be aware of my tendency to make ALL my titles artistic. And so, I’ll tell you this: I am learning alongside all of you, and as I learn more, I share more.
On the Coaching Cognition page, I started a thread about taking action. I started this post due to the incredible activity and discussion surrounding the article “What You Can DO When There’s ‘Nothing You Can Do’”. I gave the discussion thread a title, which is “If you can’t stop thinking… start doing!” I liked it. I thought it was creative and thought provoking. I even started to include it on my email signatures.
But it did not make a good thread title. You can read this line and figure out its meaning if you think about it for a second, but if you are skimming multiple thread titles with the purpose of finding answers, you will not be in the right mindset to interpret phrases like this one.
The post itself was about taking action, the difference between ‘inactivity’ and ‘doing nothing’, when it’s okay to stop what you are doing for a while, etc. Had I given my thread a title that better described its content, (How Do You Know If ‘Doing Nothing’ Is The Right Action For My Business?) more people may have participated.
After all, once they knew they could find value in my thread (or in this case, have a good place to offer value of their own), then my readers would have switched from ‘search/scan mode’ to ‘information absorption mode’. Once they open the thread, then they would be able to find value in the phrase I had originally used as a title.
They are not usually looking for creativity, but information. Does this mean you should never post a creative or artistic title that pulls more on emotions than it does logic? Absolutely not! There is a time and a place for everything. If you choose to do this, just make sure you fully understand whom you are trying to attract and what value you want them to get from your post.
For more about how to use discussion threads to move your business to the next level, read “Are You Missing Out On A Valuable Social Marketing Platform?” here on Renegade Professional News.
Then, come over to the place where you can implement or even discuss your social media marketing skills. I have noticed that many of you are becoming more active in the discussion area at Coaching Cognition, so go check it out!
06
By Kendall Silva
What is the best way to attract clients through your discussion posts? In this article, I will describe the 3 main purposes for starting a discussion thread (giving value, information gathering, and branding yourself) that will help attract clients to you. When all 3 of these purposes are present, then you will not only help more people, and attract more clients, but you will also get more out of it that will help you and your business grow.
Giving Value:
There are many types of value that can be given through a discussion. So think about the value of your post when you are deciding what type of discussion to start.
Get people thinking – When you say something inspiring that gets people to reflect upon themselves, this is a great contribution to their success.
Get people talking – Look for a hot topic. What gets people excited? When I say excited, I do not necessarily mean jumping for joy, just… jumping! What gets them riled up? What topics create posting frenzies?
Invite people to share their stories – Start by either sharing your own story on this topic, or at least show some personal interest in hearing their stories. Remember, you always want to show yourself in your posts. Remind them that you are a real person with real reasons to want to hear what they have to say.
Specific topics– When addressing a particular topic in which your post will have a suggestion or tips, it is good to be specific. That way, if someone needs that information, they can look at the subject and know they can find that exact information there. It may not end up being the most active discussion you start, but it will help people.
Broad topics – If you are trying to start a conversation for market research purposes, it is good to keep your topic broad. Ask many different questions in your post that will get people thinking and talking. There may be a particular part of the topic that you specifically want to address, but look for the right time to do it. Once people are thinking, their minds open and engaged, it will be a great time to ask a more specific question. So get them started by keeping your topic broad, then pull them in to a specific area with a powerful question.
Information Gathering:
If you post a new topic, you get to ask questions that you genuinely want to know the answer to. Discussions are valuable places for market research. A simple discussion thread can tell you so much about people in general.
What ignites their passion? What types of marketing have they ‘heard before’? What are their thoughts on coaching? How well does the value that others have given translate into their lives? What methods have they tried? What is working for them? What is not working? Do they have needs that are not yet being met? What questions do they have? What are their concerns? What can you learn about the people posting here? Is your topic attracting the crowd you intended to attract?
Branding Yourself / Exposure:
The more active you are on social sites, the more people will see you, see the value you offer, and associate your name with that value. This will make them much more likely to come to you when they need more assistance.
Think about using the same picture on all of your social sites. Your picture, over time, becomes safe and familiar, and people will begin to find comfort in that familiarity and trust your consistency.
While it is okay to change your profile picture, I do not recommend doing it often. Find one great picture of yourself and stick to it for a good while. Otherwise, you might stifle your efforts to be seen frequently enough that people recognize your name and picture and associate it with value.
To learn more about how to use discussion areas to attract clients to YOU, visit “Are You Missing Out On A Valuable Social Marketing Platform?” in which we discuss what to look for in discussion threads to provide opportunities for efficient marketing and branding.
Ready to practice some of your skills in a safe environment of coaches and students? Come on over to the Coaching Cognition Fan page, and join the discussions today!
04
By Kendall Silva
What makes someone want to do business with you? When you give value selflessly and consistently, your clients come to you! But do you feel like you are running around giving value, value, value… and not getting anywhere?
One important part of the equation is that it takes time and consistency for this to work. Long-term success does not happen overnight, but it does come if you keep up your efforts, so in that respect, patience is key.
The other part is staying efficient. Do less work and reach more people. This is something that many people have trouble understanding. They either interpret this to mean that they can do less work… period. Or they are not sure how to be more efficient in their efforts, so they continue to spin their wheels without much progress.
In this article I want to cover one of many ways to be efficient with the value you give to your community by posting comments and discussions on social sites.
But first, read the following statement and by the end of this article, you will truly understand its meaning:
It’s very effective to
stand where you can be seen,
but you also have to
stand where you can be heard.
Wall posts are one of the most visible areas on Facebook, but they constantly update and your post will disappear from view after a little time goes by. More people will see your post immediately after posting, but that exposure will only last so long. If you are consistently posting on walls, then your name will continue to be visible in these areas, so it is highly effective to stand where you can be seen.
However, don’t forget that there are other places where your posts have a longer ‘shelf-life’. They are not as readily visible, but your post will remain in place for a much, much longer time. This place is the discussion area.
Discussion areas are narrowed to those who are willing to go the extra mile to look for the help they need. This does not mean that those who post on main pages are not actively seeking help or would not make great clients; nor does it mean that all of the posts in discussion areas are made by people who are ready to sign up for your services.
It simply means that there will be a higher concentration of people who are exhibiting two qualities that make them great prospects:
- They need assistance.
- They are already taking action to get their needs met by searching in less readily visible places for the answers to their questions.
Thread topics in discussion areas are pretty easily recognized by the thread title. People who are looking for answers in a particular area can browse through the titles until they find one that matches their needs. Many topics discuss common needs, concerns, thoughts, etc that do not necessarily expire or become obsolete. Therefore, if you start a new thread, or contribute to an existing one, then your value will help more people in the long term. Your message will be heard. In this article, I will show you what to look for in order to help more people; how to stand where you can be heard.
What to Look For in Discussion Areas
New Threads –
Fresh topics frequently represent new ideas, concerns, or value. They may be directly related to your prospects current situation, depending on the actual topic.
Another reason to respond to new threads is that your comment will be closer to the original post. Therefore, if someone else comes by and opens the thread and decides it doesn’t quite fit their needs, they will still probably read through the first few posts, (just to make sure) which may include yours. Your post will show that you are involved and have a lot of value to give. After all, the more you post, the more visible and recognizable you become.
Very Active Threads –
If you see a topic with a comparatively large number of responses, then it is a hot topic. If people want to talk about it, then it means there is passion behind it, confusion related to it, disagreement within it, etc. There is a potential for continued value in it. So… contribute to the thread and stay involved.
All Threads –
Search all of the threads: old, new, short, and long. Since most discussion threads are accessible and remain on the topics list for a long time (or in some cases, indefinitely), and because the information is most likely still relevant to new visitors, anything you can add to these posts will be read over and over again by future visitors to that thread.
Discussion threads have the potential to keep your valuable comment visible for a longer amount of time to those who are already seeking assistance.
Opportunities to Start New Discussions –
Look for changes and developments in the conversation within the thread. Has the conversation moved toward something that would be more valuable as its own thread? Think like your prospects, what would be valuable to you if you were sitting in their place?
Look for related subjects within the topic that you think might benefit people, but that no one has mentioned yet. If people are discussing ‘time management skills’, and you notice that some people are having trouble balancing work time and family time, perhaps you could start a new thread that discusses ‘work-life balance’, which is a more specific form of time management.
Anticipate the needs of your community. If you find a thread that is discussing the benefits of having a business plan, you may intuitively realize that some of the participants may not have a clue how to write a business plan. Do you happen to specialize in that area? Start a new thread that gives people easy starter tips for writing business plans.
Think about the discussion area in terms of what site you are on. Anticipating your community’s needs does not have to involve finding a ‘clue’, such as a previous discussion topic.
If you are on a Coaching Cognition Student blog, and you know that the students are going to be graduating soon, what will they need? You may already know what some of their needs are (getting a practice started, finding a niche, etc), and if you address those needs, you can become very valuable to them.
But don’t miss out on other possible ways to help them by forgetting who the experts on their own needs are? Post a new thread that asks them to discuss the needs of graduating coaching students; their needs. Now you have a ‘playbook’ from which to decide how to give them the best value.
Are you ready to put these tips into action? Are you ready to be seen AND heard? Click on the highlighted words below to take you to the area of the Coaching Cognition Facebook page that will allow you to implement your skills, give value, and attract clients.
It’s very effective to
but you also have to
8 Comments »
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Great points here Kendall will get going on implementing some of them. Thanks for the post!
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Great post Kendall!
Often times we don’t know where to start or where we can be helpful.Comment by Pam McKeen — May 5, 2010 @ 6:44 am
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It is all about marketing. You can have the best posts have the best service but if you are are not seen you will not have a following so you will not be heard. Maybe this is where tribes come in.
Comment by Morris Fisher — May 5, 2010 @ 7:50 am
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As usual Kendall very relevant and useful information…and information that I plan to implement right away…
Hey Morris, your right on the money…Branding yourself within a tribe…seems to be the fastest way to be “seen and heard”.
Comment by Tom Renfro — May 5, 2010 @ 1:37 pm
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Thank you Kendall,
I felt as though I stopped by to read this article for a reason and as I continued to read I realized how it was the answer to the questions I have been asking this week.Comment by Wendy MacKay — May 5, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
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Social media especially is all about engagement. Great post not just about how to be seen and heard, but how to expand your network and reach out to people you can serve. Thanks for the tips and insight, Kendall.
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Thanks Kendall for the suggestions on how to be more relevant on facebook. I know that a wall comment is not there long, but I wasn’t thinking that discussions were where I should go either. I just went to them because they were interesting.
Comment by Tracey Hausel — May 6, 2010 @ 7:57 am
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Kendall – great tips here and very useful comment. As a smart beginner I would have liked to see some suggestions of where to get involved with threads and discussions in addition to Facebook. If you have some suggestions, perhaps you could include these in your next update on this valuable topic?
Thanks again RichardComment by Richard Anderson — May 10, 2010 @ 6:31 am
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04
By Kendall Silva
Social media marketing, when done correctly and consistently, WILL bring you customers, clients, business partners, and of course, money. See these examples I found from people in our community who are using the power of giving value through leaving great comments to position themselves for great success. When you look at these, ask yourself if you are using these skills in your own comments and how you can bring more value to your community. Doing this will help you attract clients and grow your business.
Mike Wilson/ Lisa Trost – Here are two examples in a row of comments that follow the formula of value perfectly. They both took the underlying message of my article, that one thing leads to another, and verbalized it. This is the value that they found in the article, and were able to bring it to light so that if someone new reads their comment, they will get even more out of the entire message.
Notice how they:
…communicate relevance by relating their comments directly to the article.
…show themselves by giving an example of how one thing has led to the next step in their own businesses.
…give value by sharing information and inspiring action. Lisa tells about the businesses she has aligned herself with, and then how coaching has helped her, and even promotes Mike Wilson by calling him a ‘super coach’. Mike Wilson encourages people to be active in many areas so that they, too, can experience the chain of events for themselves.
…ask for nothing in return. Neither of them asked for anything that would directly benefit themselves. Instead, they offered value for the sake of value.
These types of comments cause people to want to know more about them and see what other knowledge they may have to offer. Great job Mike and Lisa!!!
Cindy Murphy –I have noticed Cindy’s valuable comments for a while now, and each time she posts, I find myself clicking on her name and visiting her fan page. If you have a chance to go to Cindy’s Fan Page, http://www.facebook.com/bloominfanpage , you will find a LOT of consistent value, including Cool Tools, her new free series of posts on her fan page that introduce various tools that can be helpful for networking/promoting/etc. Those who visit her page are already thanking her and letting her know that they learn a lot through these kinds of posts.
Cindy has daily and monthly themes, such as May Makeover Projects, Wednesday Wishes, etc. She spends a lot of her time not only promoting herself and the tools she has discovered, but also other promoting others who have something valuable to offer. This is a truly selfless and giving page, but I never would have seen it if she wasn’t out there giving value to the community every day. Thank you for your strong online presence, Cindy!
Billy Alley – In my last article that featured comments from our community, I showed an example of someone who left a comment that was directly asking for help. Billy wanted to know the difference between an intention and a goal. Mike Klingler gave him an answer, and here you can see Billy’s reply to that.
Do you see how grateful he is for all of this knowledge and value? He is seeking it out. Billy is not the only one out there who is this excited and driven to learn more. Find Billy, find his posts (I have seen him mostly on Mike Klinger’s Fan Page), and talk to him. Cindy Murphy has also made some contact with Billy. I saw an exchange between the two of them on her fan page as well. Billy is someone who will truly appreciate your connection, get value from your information, and use it to take action.
What kind of value can YOU offer? Come to the Coaching Cognition Facebook Page and use this as a place for you to begin to give and find value!
03
By Kendall Silva
When your readers associate your name with value, you will find yourself in a position to monetize your services. When most people these days see the word ‘FREE’, they think the word ‘CATCH’. Therefore, leading with value, especially in a social setting, is the best way to attract clients in a world of (not so) “free offers”:
*Buy this, get this for FREE (just pay shipping and handling).
*But wait, there’s more! Find out how to get FREE shipping! (buy 3 of these things you only want one of)
*If you call in the next 10 minutes, you get another free thing! (never mind that we will keep running this exact commercial for 6 months)
*Free trial services! (just enter your billing info here and after the trial period is over, we will bill you until you notice and tell us to stop)
We have discussed how to make your comments valuable in the article, “How to Find, Attract, and Give Value to Your Potential Coaching Clients”. It talks about what social sites you can go to, what to look for when you are there, and how to make your comment valuable. In this article, I will break down the components of a valuable comment (relevance, show yourself, give value, ask for nothing in return) in more detail.
Relevance: What does it mean to show relevance? It’s more than just posting a comment about coaching on a page dedicated to coaching topics. There are 2 main components to showing relevance in your comment.
One part involves making sure your actual subject matter is relevant. This part does in fact mean posting a comment on a coaching page that is directly related to coaching or information that would directly benefit coaches or clients.
The other part involves relevance to your readers. This is the component that will set your comment apart from the rest. WHY is your comment relevant to THEM? This is also true if you post a link to an article that you truly think will benefit your community. It’s more than saying, ‘Hey, I saw this and thought you might like it’. After all, a generalized statement like that could cover anyone, any topic, any link, etc… can trigger the “Spam-detector” in your readers and they may not take a look.
Show Yourself: There are many ways to let your SELF come through in your comments. An easy way to do this is to tell a very brief story of how you found value in the information you are about to share. Give them a glimpse into your life.
Your word choice will also ‘show yourself’. If you communicate your value in a humorous way, then it shows your light-hearted side that may attract other light-hearted people. If your comment is very organized and professional, then you will attract other professional minds. You can use a metaphor that creates a visual image to communicate your value in a way that appeals to visually oriented people. Others may respond better to more concrete or literal descriptions. This will help your readers relate to YOU.
Give Value: Stand in the shoes of your readers. What could someone say to you if you were in a similar situation? If you were asked why your comment is valuable, what would you say? Do you have an answer you are comfortable with?
What kind of value are you providing? Is it new information? Is it a reminder of something that you feel people tend to forget in their day-to-day lives? Are you simply explaining information that someone else provided in a new way that you think might reach different people?
Make sure you can always answer the question: “What will my audience gain from reading my comment?”
Ask for Nothing in Return: This is something that can be explained in a little more detail. When you ask for nothing in return, it means you are not asking people to make any further commitment to you than reading your comment or the attached article. No one wants to sign up for an email list that runs the risk of subjecting them to daily advertisements. Once they know you are consistent with the value you give, they will come to you when they are ready for more.
However… this does not mean you shouldn’t give them a call to action. Your readers can only receive the value you give if they DO something with it. If you give them some kind of tip, invite them to try it out at home and see what happens. Use your comment to inspire your readers to follow the link to a helpful article. Create a comment that is thought provoking, and ask them to think about it or even post their thoughts on the subject.
As long as the action you want your readers to take will specifically benefit them, not yourself, then you are both calling them to action and asking for nothing in return.
1 Comment »
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This article was very informative. Thank You!!
Comment by Yavonne fuller — May 3, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
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29
By Kendall Silva
We posted an article that teaches you where to go, what to look for, and how to give value that will attract potential coaching clients. This article came with an invitation for you, coaches and students included, to get out there and start posting.
I was already able to begin collecting comments that I wanted to feature by the time evening arrived! This means that some of you really jumped on this.
If you have not read the article yet, CLICK HERE TO READ, and then give it a try. Put it into action. This is for both current coaches and students to try, though other entrepreneurs can also apply these tips. Coaching Cognition students will be graduating soon and many of you will be starting your coaching career. This is not just practice; it will begin the process of attracting your potential coaching clients to you.
Now, let’s get to the great comments you have been leaving. I was excited to see that Dan Hammer and Jan Roberts had already used these tips to comment on the article itself! When you go to the article, look at what they had to say!
Dan’s comment is relevant, it reveals something about him, it gives specific value (sending the message that ‘one action leads to another…’) by giving a personal example with a link to where they can learn more if they choose (YouTube), and it doesn’t ask anyone to do anything for him ‘in return for his free value’, such as buying an ebook, etc). A perfect example of a well-written comment! In fact, I can recommend watching his video because he continued to give incredible value in his testimonial for Mike Wilson. We will be discussing what makes a great testimonial soon, so definitely check out Dan’s video and yet another great example of how to give value.
Jan Roberts’ comment on the article was also great. His personality shined through this comment, as it usually does with Jan. He added value by solidifying the message of the article through personal experience. Then he added more value by saying “sometimes it’s easy to forget about some of them for a while when busy with other things”. This helped to remind people that we all get busy and forget, but that they can use this as a reminder to help their community. When he said he’s been guilty of it himself, it makes you see him as a human being. Nobody is perfect, and when you can be reminded of that, you might feel safer with the person who reminded you. Great job Jan!
In the following video, you will see comments from our coaches and students who have embraced these tips and given great value. You will also see a great example of the types of comments that you want to look out for and address when you are searching for places to give value.
I hope you take what you learn here, and continue to apply it within the community. I will still be watching and featuring more of your comments and value right here on Renegade Professional News.
1 Comment »
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When responding to a comment, it is important to be specific with what you are adding. For example, don’t simply agree or disagree with what you are commenting on. Rather, give specific reason WHY you agree or disagree. Also, try to add your own “spin”, or perspective on the topic.
Comment by Michael Hutchins — April 30, 2010 @ 7:10 am
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27
By Kendall Silva
How do you give value to your potential
coaching clients through social media marketing?
Give value without expecting anything in return. If you are not pitching your services, people do not feel like you are pressuring them. Instead, they feel safe with you.
As coaches, we know how important it is to create a safe environment for our clients. This does not just start at the beginning of your first session together. It begins the very first time your potential clients are introduced to you, such as when they read your comments on a social site.
In this article, we will be focusing on social media marketing in the form of providing free value through posting on social sites. We will discuss where to go, what to look for, and what makes your comment valuable.
Where do you go?
Coaching Cognition and Renegade Professional have provided you with incredible platforms from which to give value to your community. On Facebook, we have fan pages where you can find your potential clients and give them information that helps them and makes them feel comfortable coming to you with questions.
Coaching Cognition Fan Page – Widespread knowledge of what coaching can do for someone in their personal and professional life is simply lacking. When these people finally learn more about the coaching process, they become convinced that they can truly benefit from coaching services. It is for this reason that most of the Coaching Cognition clients are also coaching students! They are not only learning that the coaching process WORKS and that they can help a lot of people using their coaching skills, but they are also realizing that they can benefit from having a coach of their own. These are more than just potential clients because they are already confident in the process!
Mike Klingler Fan Page – With over 10.6K fans, you are very likely to reach a large number of people with your message. The chance that many of these people will need specific types of support in which you happen to specialize is high!
Along with the Facebook pages, there are 2 other social networks that are available to Coaching Cognition students and coaches.
The Student Blog – Located in your Coaching Cognition back office, this is a place where the students are sharing their thoughts and questions about the training classes, materials, practice exercises, etc. Is there a better place to offer valuable information than one that is full of inspired people who are eager to learn more about what you offer?
Coaching Cognition Students – This is social network on ning for.. you guessed it… Coaching Cognition Students! If you are a coach or a student at Coaching Cognition, you should already have the link to this site, but if you do not, please contact support@marketingmerge.com and ask for the link. You do not want to miss out on this community. This is a fabulous place to give value and learn about the needs of your community.
What do you look for?
There are many things to be looking for on the various social sites that can help you decide what kind of value to give and where to focus your gift that will be the most efficient. Keep an eye out for:
People who are already responding to the value that others are giving – If someone is already responding to value and applying it to their own lives in some way, then they are more than ready for the coaching process! They will be more likely to get value from you and use it to their advantage, and they are in the mindset to take action based on the inspiration that is presented to them.
People who are asking for help – Even if someone is asking for some specific knowledge that you think may require consulting, it is a sign that they are feeling stuck in the process, even if it is something simple, and they are taking the action to ask for help. That is a step that many people do not take, so understand that those who ask for help, any kind of help, can benefit from your information as well!
Topics of discussion that are getting a lot of responses – If there are a LOT of people commenting on a particular topic, then it is likely regarding a common experience for a large portion of your target audience. Join in! The topic itself has grabbed the attention of all of these people, so think about how can you let your value take the discussion to the next level.
New Topics/Discussions – The sooner you respond to a new topic, the more people will see your comment, the more valuable your comment becomes to a wider audience. Older topics may not be on the main page any longer, and then your valuable comment is hidden from the more public view.
What Do You Include in a “Valuable Comment”?
Relevance – Relevance, relevance, relevance!!! You can post an incredibly valuable comment, but if it is not obviously relevant to the discussion thread, then it may be received as spam.
Show Yourself – You can communicate a little bit about who you are by briefly referencing a personal experience, using a couple of descriptive words about yourself, or showing personality through your communication style (humorous, empathetic, casual, professional, etc). By showing who you are, people will connect with you and those with similar personalities or experiences will be attracted to you.
Give Value – Say something that no one else has said. Don’t simply rephrase or agree with someone else without adding something new. Your value can come in the form of insight, a resource, tips for how to approach the subject being discussed, etc. Another way to give value is by using your insights to get others thinking critically about the topic. Take the discussion in a new (but relevant!) direction by looking for a possible source of concern or problems that others may experience, and give a solution.
Ask for Nothing In Return – Give for the sake of giving. If no one responds, that is okay. It doesn’t mean your value wasn’t received. Remember, this is your “Comm-UNITY”… not your “Comm-YOU-nity”. It’s all about helping others. When you have expectations of return, then you are no longer working to help others, you are in it for yourself. But when you maintain an attitude of Comm-UNITY, then the entire community gets long-term benefit, including yourself!
Want to be Featured at Renegade Professional News?
Show us how you can use what you have learned from this article by putting it into ACTION! I will be watching the sites mentioned above and choosing comments that embrace these tips and then I will feature them right here on Renegade Professional News!
6 Comments »
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Hi Kendall,
Very good article. I wanted to highlight how the community involvement that you discussed in your article plays out in real life. One action leads to another action which leads to improvements and increased success. For example, Ann Sieg lead me to The Renegade University which lead me to Coaching Cognition which lead me to Mike Wilson. Mike Wilson helped me significantly improve my online message so that when Mark Hoverson’s Leadership Branding course become available I was able to understand how to apply Mark’s techniques and information. Mark also offered a Ning community in which I connected with two groups. One on videos and another one on how to utilize a Bamboo writing tablet. Here’s a little thank you tribute to Mike Wilson and his coaching which help me utilize all of the above techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufFs001hJuY
Mike’s a great coach and I highly recommend him. But the important message is the same as yours. Get involved and seek out people who can take you to the next level.
Dan Hammer
Comment by Dan Hammer — April 28, 2010 @ 7:52 am
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Hi Kendall,
Once again,you have delivered an outstanding article!
It is true,we can not run a business without a sign anywere to be seen and our doors closed.
I am personally benefitting greatly of all these tremendous pieces of wisdom strewn throughout our communities and the comments left by my fellow students and other interesting participants.
I can always be sure to learn something new from all who freely give value in the form of advise,comments,observationsand personal experiences.
Thank you very much for reminding me of all the communities we can find all these wonderful people in;sometimes it’s easy to forget about some of them for a while when busy with other things…I’ve been guilty of that myself.
Warmest regards and full of appreciation,
Jan
Comment by Jan Robberts — April 28, 2010 @ 8:41 am
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Kendall,
What an inspiring article! This is the epitome of attraction marketing – leading with value and simply wanting to help others who may be walking a bit behind us in certain areas of the journey.
One thing really does lead to another. I started with SBI!, then found Ann Sieg’s Renegade Network Marketer, and then joined Renegade Pro and Breakthrough. Add to that now Coaching Cognition and Mark’s Leadership Branding….and the overall value gained is indescribable!I also snagged a super coach at the Hoverson event – Mike Wilson. He has an amazing capacity to draw out the values that matter most to an individual, and to help them discover what they are truly inspired to accomplish. I owe many thanks to all of the wonderful people I have met through this Comm-UNITY of entrepreneurs!
Comment by Lisa Trost — April 28, 2010 @ 11:06 am
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Kendall,
You never know how, or when, your actions will come back to you. But they always do and the benefits are amplified.Just look at the comments here – one thing leads to another, and I have the opportunity to meet and work with two outstanding marketers – Dan Hammer and Lisa Trost. See what I mean about the benefits?
Be active in multiple areas – Comm-UNITY – and do it the way Kendall describes. It’s fulfilling.
Michael Wilson
Comment by Michael Wilson — April 29, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
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Pingback by How Dr. Jim Parks Uses His Training at Coaching Cognition to Provide Value! « Renegade Professional News — April 30, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
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Hi Kendall,
Thanks for the reminder that we are nearing the end, and have now had five months of coaching education and experience. It has been an aexciting ride so far, and one I am enjoying and getting so much satisfaction from the course and the skills I have been able to use in my relationships.
MaryComment by Mary Speller — May 1, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
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06
Cindy Schulson
Coaches are working hard to get the message out there about how people can truly benefit from coaching services, despite the media’s clouding of the definition of a coach. Not unlike the struggles of a network marketer, or any entrepreneur for that matter, a coach is faced with certain challenges.
These challenges include dealing with popular social perspective on the coaching profession, deciding how to best leverage their resources to get the coaching message into the marketplace, and delivering value consistently and effectively without asking for anything in return.
Isn’t it interesting that the challenges are so similar to those a network marketer must face as well?
Cindy Schulson made this very realization while she was deciding what direction in which she wanted to take her coaching practice after finishing the Coaching Cognition program as one of our pilot coaches.
Cindy discovered that building a coaching practice is not unlike building a network marketing business, and that both entrepreneurs can use the same skills and techniques to attract clients and become successful. However, she also realized that coaches might have a hard time translating these skills from the network marketing world into the coaching profession. Cindy uncovered a need and is now offering a solution, beginning with niche coaching. She talks more about this in her INTERVIEW with Kendall Silva.
Cindy is now building her business through Coaching Cognition and has had a lot of success due to her incredible ability to stay connected within social networks and provide value to her potential clients.
By interacting with her potential clients online and offering so much free value, she has positioned herself as an expert in the field of niche coaching. Whether you are a beginning coach or network marketer who is trying to build your business, you are encouraged to check out what Cindy Schulson is doing, and follow suit. She is definitely on the road to success!
Cindy truly knows the meaning of providing value, and she does this through her informative posts and interactions. She even offers a free e-book called “Ten Steps to Finding & Attracting Your Ideal Niche” that is even more value-packed!
Not only is she a shining example of someone who enjoys what she does, but she also loves sharing what she learns with others. She does her homework by researching the topics that may help others, finding a way to relate the information to the needs of her community, and then telling them all about it!
Her passion shows through when you hear her talk about coaching, and she is an utter delight. After recording her INTERVIEW, I couldn’t help but have warm feelings toward her. She is a very genuine person who loves what she does, who she works with, and who she works for… her clients!!!
So check in with Cindy Schulson frequently, and you just might find some value that relates to your life or business. And if you would like to talk more with Cindy about your own business ventures, schedule a free 15-minute Introductory Session with her and find out if Cindy Schulson may be the right coach for YOU.
CLICK HERE to listen to my interview with Cindy Schulson.
To stay plugged in to the community and keep in touch with people like Cindy Schulson, visit the Coaching Cognition Facebook page for some inspiring discussions and value offered by others like Cindy within the community.
To learn more about media portrayal of coaching and what celebrities are getting involved in coaching, visit the article by Kendall Silva, Are Life Coaches the New TEACUP CHIHUAHUAS?: Pop culture connections and why you can find success in coaching.
8 Comments »
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Hi Kendall/Cindy,
Thanks for the great interview and wonderful insight into Cindy Schulson and her,obviously growing popularity in our community and beyond.
Off course I have noticed Cindy,popping up all over the place giving great value for us to absorb and improve with.
A shining example for us to follow…and even call for a consultation!
I already look forward to your next piece of content Kendall;
Awesome. Comment by Jan Robberts — April 7, 2010 @ 7:34 am
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Great interview Cindy and Kendall! I learned a lot just by listening to the interaction between you two. Thanks for providing specific and targeted value for us!
Comment by Lisa Trost — April 7, 2010 @ 8:15 am
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So awesome Cindy, the parallel of building a business in any market that is new and often misunderstood can be challenging, yet exciting. We have the opportunity to educate the masses and offer so many alternatives for living and working in their passionate field. As the universe of people start to realize these opportunities there should no longer be unemployment.
I look forward to listening to youre interview.Comment by Wendy MacKay — April 7, 2010 @ 9:32 am
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Hey Cindy Schulson and everyone.
There is a saying like this,when you do your job which you like,you don’t have to work even one day in your life.Naturely, everyone like the profession which he is doing it well.
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Pingback by Who is the Expert?: Why Advice Doesn’t Offer Long-Term Value « Renegade Professional News — April 7, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
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@Jan- thanks so much! You, too, are utilizing the social networks and I always look forward to what you have to say! Keep it up!
@Lisa- Very cool! Glad you got so much out of the interview, and thanks for posting to tell us about it. I had a lot of fun chatting with Cindy, and I think this showed through.
@Wendy- @Lea
So true! I am amazed by the stories I hear from people about how they got started, and sometimes it begins with the loss of a job or some other inability to work. Or perhaps they finally reached a point in their lives in which it was time to find out what else is out there.They stumble across this information and run with it! Wouldn’t it be cool if more people learned about this, and it showed them that they have a choice in this world. Work a job they may not enjoy and wait for retirement, or look deep inside themselves and discover other alternatives that will bring them more value and fulfillment.
And you are right, @Wendy, if more people knew about the opportunities in reach, the unemployment rate would probably start to drop.
Also, as @Lea stated, less people would actually be “working”, because their income would be a product of their passion, not their labor.
Great stuff!
-Kendall Silva-Comment by CoachingCognition — April 7, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
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I am one of Cindy’s clients and I feel so thrilled to have her as my coach. As you can hear from this recording, Cindy is full of enthusiasm which is very infectious. Cindy helped me very quickly to find my niche and it is the first time in my life that I have got to have my very own purpose (apart from being a great Mum to my kids). If anyone is struggling to find their niche and you sincerely want to have vision and ocus, then please do get in contact with Cindy.
Comment by Helen Wenley — April 7, 2010 @ 10:47 pm
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Many thanks to Kendall and Coaching Cognition for this opportunity, and to everyone who took the time to listen:)
@Helen – thank you so much for the kind words — you are amazing. I often feel like I should be paying my clients because I learn so much from them.
Regarding your niche, it is the cornerstone of your business. I was just talking with a client today and she said how amazed she is that once you find your niche, everything else just seems to fall into place. So true!
Comment by Cindy Schulson — April 8, 2010 @ 3:38 pm
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28
Mike Klingler here.
As most of you already know, I’ve been studying social media marketing for over 2 years with tremendous success.
And I’ve committed much of my time to teaching what I’ve learned.
Now, the next chapter!!!
Over the last several months I’ve found some new ways to leverage what I like to call “The Power 5″ social media locations to accomplish even more with less time. It’s exciting stuff.
To show and tell, in the style of teaching I love to do, I’ll be doing what I teach at my business Fan Page at Facebook, which is one of these Power 5 locations (this is different from the personal Face book page where you probably follow me at now).
I’ll be showing you how to use the Facebook business pages to duplicate what I’ve learned with less time.
Follow what I’m doing at Facebook business pages so you can stay connected to this next phase of my teaching cirriculum. What I do here will connect with my next version of training at Renegade Professional.
Click to become a fan and follow the process over next few months.
By the way, if you’d like to be able to talk with me, now you can. Ask me your question at the Discussions Area once becoming a fan.
Partners in success,
Mike Klingler
19 Comments »
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Mike,
It is incredible the kinds of supports Rnegade Professional is bringing to the Renegade Community.It is going to be fun to follow you and avoid pitfalls in social media and participate in best practice to get maximum results.
Thank you for being a forever student, then teacher.
Comment by Pat Campbell — February 28, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
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Hi Mike,
How can I put a picture thumbnail here like Pat has…..? Thanks
Comment by Kristoperson — February 28, 2010 @ 10:19 pm
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You are right there in the trenches doing it and helping us along the way. Thanks, Mike. Renegade Professional just gets better and better!
Comment by Lanette Passarelli — February 28, 2010 @ 10:30 pm
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@Kristoperson,
Use this tutorial from one of our Super Guide blogs headed up by Dotty Scott of Premium Websites located in Vancouver, WA. http://marketingtraditionalbusinesses.com/gravatar-you-need-one/
Comment by ericwalker — February 28, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
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Facebook is one of those things i have not been able to spend time on – this will be very helpful, Looking forward to it.
Comment by David K. Enders, D.C. — February 28, 2010 @ 11:20 pm
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HI Mike! I shared this comment in your Fan Page Discussion but wanted to share it here too…
Funny, I teach about the “Big 4″ but the Fan Page is something that I have been contemplating with for months… Here’s my post:
“Hi Mike! This is sooo cool! THANK YOU for taking the initiative and leading the way to educate the community re the benefits of a Fan Page. I for one have contemplated the idea of a fan page for a few months now but here are the 2 biggest reasons I haven’t moved forward with creating one:
1) I can’t get over the idea of me inviting people to “Become My Fan”… why can’t it just be “Let’s Learn From Each Other” or something?
I know it’s a rather shallow excuse but I guess my #2 reason is is really what has been stopping me and that is,2) I already have to consciously limit my time for my social media mktg efforts, especially now that I am in product and course creation mode. I am already having a bit of a challenge making time to build and foster my relationships on my personal FB profile that to add another page – a Fan Page- where I really have to be consistently “present” and maintain makes me a bit nervous that one of them might suffer from lesser TLC…
One of my mentors ( soon to launch a book am co-authoring with her) Social Media Expert Mari Smith, is a huge advocate of Fan Pages and that’s what prompted me to seriously consider it.
I know sooner or later, I have to do it since I have so much I would like to teach and share as far as how to use technology and Relationship or Relational Marketing to grow ones business!
I am all eyes – and ears – to what you’re doing! I continue to learn immensely from you and I absolutely trust your direction and pioneering spirit!
In Gratitude,
Emma
”Comment by Emma Tiebens — February 28, 2010 @ 11:29 pm
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Mike
I am looking forward to seeing how its done. I am curious as to the other 4 “power locations”.
Ed -
That’s what i love about the Renegade Professional you always coming up with new and wonderful ideas to further enhance i learning curve great job Mike on my way to follow.
Comment by Martin Leyon — March 1, 2010 @ 6:00 am
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This is so right for me at this time. I’ve had doubts as to how social networking really added to the overall value one brings to the table in order to get leads. I have lots to learn in this area and I’m ready for the mind shift.
Comment by Marie Leonard — March 1, 2010 @ 7:47 am
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Mike and Eric,
The Power 5 and Smart Beginner are excellent training opportunities that I’m excited about learning and activating to increase my education and create communication around my passion and niche.
Thank you for all you do for all of us! Wow you’re both awesome in giving value!!!!
Comment by Peggy Krzmarzick — March 1, 2010 @ 8:41 am
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Mike,
Thanks again for steppin’ up and leading the way… And as Pat said, It’s this kind of support that makes the Renegade… well Renegade, unique….and exciting to be a part of…See ya on the Fan Page…
Tom
Comment by Tom Renfro — March 1, 2010 @ 9:13 am
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Mike
Thanks for always bring information that will advance our efforts. You are a great teacher.
Comment by Rallie Rallis — March 1, 2010 @ 10:47 am
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Super program this will be Mike! I see that Google now indexes the updates from the Facebook fan pages.
Comment by Rose Clark — March 1, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
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Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know I posted a response at the Facebook Discussion area here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Klingler/307154349288?v=app_2373072738#!/topic.php?uid=307154349288&topic=13140
(you have to be logged into Facebook to view the discussion).
We’re really turning on the heat over there!
MikeComment by Mike Klingler — March 1, 2010 @ 10:10 pm
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Hi Mike,
Again, you have introduced great info and training. I am so glad to be part of this great community and the continuation to learn and absorb as much as possible.
Have a great day,
Cindy
Comment by Cindy Murphy — March 3, 2010 @ 5:00 am
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Hi Eric,
Thanks for the info and I have now have my own gravatar
This community is the best of the best…Comment by Kristoperson — March 6, 2010 @ 10:29 pm
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@ Ed, yah, Twitter needs a new background and will do some other things (showing each piece of it)
But mainly its my YouTube that must come alive next.
Then will show you how to make them all synergize.
It’s powerful stuff.
At Facebook right now what I want you to notice is how I focus everyone’s attention on the Discussion page allowing me to facilitate rather than have all the answers myself.
I direct people there to participate making it a condensed hot spot of activity.
That is just one of many things I’ll be showing in order to synergize the social media locations and be able to direct people to events, offers, new lead capture pages, etc that you wish to promote.
But doing it all as a servant with the first aim to assist and be a resource.
Comment by Mike Klingler — March 11, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
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This is incredible value. Thank you Mike for making it available.
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Hi Mike, I was delighted to see the FB fan page you have set up. It looks fabulous. I will be going through it carefully, and listening to all the training. I can see the potential and want to turn it into real results.
Comment by Mary Speller — March 18, 2010 @ 1:08 am
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What People Are Saying...
I think I am mad. At 72 I am getting the information from you and can not stop reading.. All my life I tried everything and did not succeed in anything. It was a road or roads of struggling. My ideas were GREAT, always in front of everybody else's, but lack of support from my family, my husband, my friends etc. was nil. They thought that what I was talking and suggesting, was pure madness. I was going one step forward and two steps backwards. No support from anywhere, many times being even humiliated. Oh,if I only had the knowledge what you are offering to us now....I am slow using the computer because I am still learning. Marija
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Recent Comments
- CoachingCognition: Helen, That is amazing! And it brings up the relevant point of making sure that the person you are...
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Correspondents
Mike Klingler
Co-Executive Producer
Oregon, USA
Kendall Silva
Coaching Cognition
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Barbara Silva
Coaching Cognition
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Lisa Holcomb
Marketing Merge, Inc
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Kendall – thank you for your very informative article on discussion thread titles. I think I’ve been guilty of being too vague here and there, but with a little practice and the application of your comments, even I can get better!
Nice work
Richard
Comment by Richard Anderson — May 10, 2010 @ 6:12 am